The Mystical City of God

VOLUME I
THE CONCEPTION
CHAPTER XVII
STILL TREATING OF THE MYSTERY OF THE CONCEPTION OF HOLY MARY AND
EXPLAINING THE TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER OF THE APOCALYPSE

244. The Immaculate Conception of the most holy Mary contains such great and such exalted
sacraments that in order to make me more capable of understanding this admirable mystery, his
Majesty opened up to me many of the hidden meanings of the twenty-first chapter of the Apocalypse of
St. John and referred me to it for my guidance. In recording some of the things which were manifested
to me I will divide this explanation into three parts, thus relieving the monotony which too long a
chapter might entail. And first I will give the very words of that chapter which begins in the following
manner:
245. 1. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth were
gone, and the sea was now no more.
2. And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3. And I heard a great voice from the throne saying: Behold the tabernacle of God with men,
and He shall dwell with them. And they shall be his people and God himself with them shall be
their God.
4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and death shall be no more, nor crying,
nor mourning, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away.
5. And He that sat upon the throne said: Behold I make all things new. And He said to me:
Write, for these things are most faithful and true.
6. And He said to me: It is done; I am the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end. To
him that thirsteth I will give of the fountain of the water of life, freely.
7. He that shall overcome shall possess these things and I will be his God; and he shall be my
Son.
8. But the fearful and the unbeliever and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire
and brimstone, which is the second death."
246. This is the first of the three parts of the literal rendering of this chapter and I will begin to
explain it verse for verse. “I saw,” says the Evangelist, “a new heaven and a new earth." He speaks of
the creation of Mary by the hand of the Almighty and the formation of that material, from which the
most holy human nature of the Word originated. With great propriety can that divinely human nature
and the virginal womb, where and from which the Word was formed, be called a new heaven; for in
that heaven, God began to dwell in a new way (Jerem. 31,21), different from that in which He had
dwelt before in the old heaven and in any of his creatures. But also the old heaven after the mystery of

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the Incarnation could be called new, for through it the novelty was made possible, that henceforth also
mortal men could dwell therein. Moreover the renovation, which was wrought by the glory of the
humanity of Christ and that of his most pure Mother, was so splendid, that in addition to its former
essential glory, it renewed the heaven and added to it unheard of beauty and splendor. Although the
good angels already dwelt there, that was a thing as of old and of yore; therefore it was as it were a new
event, that the Onlybegotten of the Father should by his death restore to men the glory lost through sin,
and merit for them admittance into heaven, whence they had been expelled and incapacitated as
inhabitants through their own fault. And because all this renewal of heaven had its beginning in most
holy Mary, the Evangelist, in speaking of Mary born without sin, said that he saw a new heaven.
247. He saw also a new earth; for the old earth was stained and laden with the guilt of sin and the
reprobation; but the holy and blessed earth of most holy Mary was a new earth without the fault or the
malediction of Adam; and it was so new, that since the creation of the first earth none other was seen
until the creation of most holy Mary. It was so new and free from the malediction of the old earth that
in this blessed earth were renewed all the rest of the children of Adam. For on ac count of the blessed
earth of Mary and through it, and in it, the earthly material of Adam was beginning to be blessed,
renewed and vivified, having until then remained cursed and grown old in malediction. All was
renewed in most holy Mary and in her innocence; and therefore the Evangelist, seeing that in Her this
renovation of the human and earthly elements took its rise, says that in Mary conceived without sin he
saw a new heaven and a new earth. He continues:
248. “For the first heaven and the first earth were gone." It naturally followed that as soon as the
new earth and new heaven of Mary and her Son the God-man appeared in the world, the old heaven
and the earth, grown old by the sin-tarnished human and earthly matter, should disappear. There was
now a new heaven for the Divinity in that human being, which, being preserved from sin, could furnish
a new habitation to God through the hypostatic union of the person of the Word. Already the first
heaven ceased to exist, that one which God had created in Adam and which had become deficient and
unfit for the indwelling of a God. This disappeared and for it was substituted the other heaven in the
coming of Mary. Then also arose the new heaven of glory for the human beings, not inasmuch as the
empyrean heaven was removed, but in so far as from now on there would not be wanting the presence
of men therein, who had been excluded for so many ages. In this respect it ceased to be the old heaven
and it became a new one through the merits of Christ, now beginning to shine forth in the aurora of
grace, most holy Mary, his Mother. Thus vanished the first heaven and the first earth, which until then
was without hope of remedy. “And the sea was no more." For the sea of abominations and sin, which
had flooded the world and destroyed the earth of our being, ceased to exist with the coming of most
holy Mary and of Christ; for the sea of his blood superabounded, overwhelming the sea of sin in such
an abundance, that no amount of guilt could prevail against it. If the mortals would only approach this
infinite sea of the divine mercy and merits of Jesus Christ our Lord, all the sins of the world would
cease to exist, since the Lamb of God came to undo them and take them away.
249. “And I, John, saw the holy city and the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." As all these mysteries had their beginning in most holy
Mary, and were founded in Her, the Evangelist says, that he saw the holy city Jerusalem, for under this
figure he speaks of Her. To Him was given to see Her, in order that he might value so much more
highly and watch with befitting solicitude over the Treasure, which was confided to his care at the foot
of the Cross. And although nothing could ever fill up the void caused by the absence of her Son, yet it
was befitting that saint John should be enlightened as to the dignity of the office, which he was to
assume, namely, that of a substitute for her natural Son.
250. On account of the wonderful works, which God had accomplished in the city of Jerusalem, it was
a most excellent symbol of Her, who was his Mother, the center and the focus of all wonders of the

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Almighty. For a similar reason it is also a figure of the works of the Church militant and triumphant;
both were revealed to the eagle vision of saint John and he was shown the correspondence and
similarity which those two mystical Jerusalems presented. But in an especial manner he viewed as
from a watchtower the exalted Jerusalem of the most holy Mary, in which are portrayed and reproduced
all the graces, wonders, gifts and excellences of the Church militant and triumphant. Whatever was
transacted in Jerusalem, the city of Palestine, and all that it signified together with its inhabitants, is
reproduced in the most pure Mary, the holy City of God, and with a greater and more marvelous
excellence than in all the rest of heaven and earth and their inhabitants. Hence She is called the new
Jerusalem, since all her gifts, her greatness and virtues are new and are the cause of new wonder to the
saints. New also, because She came after all the ancient Fathers, Patriarchs and Prophets, and in Her
were renewed and accomplished all their clamors, their prophecies and promises; new, because She
came without the contagion of guilt and under a new dispensation far from the law of sin; new, because
She entered into the world triumphant over sin, the devil and the first deceit, thus being the greatest
new event since its beginning.
251. As all this was now on the earth and could not have proceeded from earthly causes, She is said
to “come down from heaven. Although She was derived from Adam according to the ordinary course
of nature, She did not tread the well-worn paths of sin in her coming, as had been done by all the
preceding children of that first delinquent. For that Lady alone there was a special decree of divine
predestination and a new path was opened, by which She should descend into this world with Her
divine Son, neither being Herself the companion of any other of the mortals, nor any of them being
found worthy of treading the same path as She and Christ our Lord. Thus She, as a new creature from
the heaven of the divine mind, descended from the exalted spheres of divine forethought and pre-
ordination. Just as the other children of Adam, derived from the earth, are earthly and tainted, so this
Queen of all creation comes from heaven derived from God himself by innocence and grace; for
ordinarily we say, that such a one is descended from this or that house or family, since he descends
therefrom as from a source of his being. Now the natural substance of Mary, which She derived from
Adam, scarcely comes into consideration, when we take into account her dignity as Mother of God
with all that it imports as bringing Her so near to the eternal Father by grace and participation of the
Divinity. This dignity causes her natural being to appear as merely accessory and of minor importance.
Hence the Evangelist directed his gaze upon that which was in Her most exalted and heavenly, and not
upon the insignificant part of her being that came from the earth.
252. He continues saying that She came “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." For the day
of the espousal it is customary among mortals to procure the most precious adornments and presents
obtainable for adorning the terrestrial bride, and the most precious jewels will even be borrowed, in
order that nothing may be wanting to the array befitting her state and condition. Therefore, if we
admit, as we are indeed forced to admit, that the most pure Mary was the Spouse of the blessed Trinity,
and Mother of the second Person, and that She was adorned and prepared for these dignities by the
omnipotent God, who is infinite and rich without measure or limit: what adornments, what preparation,
what jewels must those be with which He fitted Her out in order that She might be a worthy Spouse and
Mother? Would He reserve any of his jewels in his treasury? Would He withhold any grace that could
beautify and make Her precious? Would He permit Her to be deformed, ill-favored, blemished in any
way or for the least instant? Would He be sparing and niggardly with his Mother and Spouse, when He
so prodigiously lavishes the treasures of the Divinity upon other souls, who, in comparison, with Her,
are less than servants and slaves of his house? Let all confess with the Lord Himself, that She alone is
the chosen One (Cant. 6, 8) and the perfect One, whom the rest must recognize, proclaim and magnify
as the immaculate and most happy among women, of whom in wonder and with joyful praise they ask:
Who is She that comes forth like the morning, beautiful as the moon (Cant. 6, 9), and terrible as the

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serried armies? This is the most holy Mary, the only Spouse and Mother of the Almighty, who
descends to the world adorned and prepared as the Bride of the blessed Trinity for her Spouse and her
Son. This coming and entrance was made memorable by such great gifts of the Divinity, that the
splendor of them made Her more agreeable than the sunrise, more beautiful than the moon, more
exquisite and admirable than the sun, and without equal among things created; She came more valiant
and powerful than the heavenly hosts of saints and angels. She descended adorned and prepared by
God, who gave Her all that He desired, and who desired to give Her all that He could, and who could
give all that is not the essentially Divine, namely, all that is most approximate to the Divinity and
farthest removed from any blemish of a creature. Entire and most perfect was this adornment, so that
all defect was excluded, which would not have been the case, if in any regard She failed in grace and
innocence. Without this the treasures of grace would not suffice to make Her so beautiful, since they
would adorn but a distorted visage, a nature infected with sin, or a garment soiled and be smirched by
guilt. Forever there would have been a stain, a shadow and blot of guilt, which no diligence on her part
could obliterate. All this was unbefitting the Mother and Spouse of God, and if it was unbefitting Her,
it was also unbefitting Himself; for He would have failed to adorn and prepare Her, with the love of a
Spouse, or the solicitude of a Son, if, having in his possession most rich and precious vestments, He
would have clothed his Mother and Spouse, and Himself, in soiled and worn-out garments.
253. It is verily time, that the honor due to our great Queen should be unveiled and made clear to
human in sight, and that whoever was misled by opposite opinions, should hesitate and cease to belittle
and deny Her the adornments of her immaculate purity at the instant of her heavenly Conception.
Compelled by the force of truth and by the light, in which I see these ineffable mysteries, I proclaim
over and over again, that (as far as revealed to me), the privileges, graces, prerogatives, favors and gifts
of most holy Mary, not excluding even that of her being the Mother of God, all depend upon, have their
origin, and are founded upon the fact, that She was immaculate and full of grace in the moment of her
most pure Conception, hence all of them would appear ill-proportioned and deficient without this favor,
like a sumptuous edifice without a solid and well-built foundation. All depend and are founded in a
certain way upon the purity and innocence of her Conception and on this account it was necessary to
refer so often in the course of this history to this mystery, especially when treating of the divine decree,
the formation of most holy Mary, and the incarnation of her most holy Son. I will not enlarge on this;
but I will give notice to all, that the Queen of heaven so esteems the beauty and adornment given to Her
by her Son and Spouse in her purest Conception, that She will be correspondingly incensed against
those, who, with evil intention and obstinacy, try to despoil Her and debase Her in this point, while her
most holy Son had deigned to show Her to the world thus adorned and beautified for his glory and for
the encouragement of the mortals. The Evangelist proceeds:
254. “And I heard a great voice from the throne saying: Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and
he shall dwell with them. And they shall be his people and God himself with them shall be their God."
The voice of the Most High is great and strong, sweet and efficacious to move and draw toward Him all
creation. Such was the voice which saint John heard proceeding from the throne of the most blessed
Trinity and which caused him to pay perfect attention, in order to understand thoroughly the mystery
which was then shown to him. He was privileged to see the dwelling of God among men and that He
lived among them, that He was their God and they his people. All this was contained in the mysterious
figure of most holy Mary descending from heaven in the form I have described. Since this divine
tabernacle of God had now come to the earth, it followed, that God also dwelt among men for He lived
and remained in this tabernacle. It is as if the Evangelist had said: the King has taken possession and is
holding his court in the world and for no other reason than, that He might remain and dwell on earth.
And in such manner, that from this tabernacle He was to assume the human form, in which He was to
be a Dweller among men. In it He was to be their God and they his people, as the inheritance of the

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Father and also for his Mother. We were the inheritance of the Father to his Son, not only because in
Him were all things created and because all was given to Him through the eternal generation: but also
because He redeemed us as man clothed in our human nature, buying us as his people and as the
inheritance of the Father and making us his brethren. For the same reason, namely, on account of his
human nature, we are the legitimate inheritance of Mary most holy, since She gave Him the form of
human flesh by which He purchased us for Himself. She, being the Mother and the Spouse of the
Blessed Trinity, was also the Mistress of all creation, which She left as an inheritance of her
Onlybegotten; for the human laws, are founded on right reason and therefore need not be invalid in the
divine order of things.
255. This voice proceeded from the royal throne through an angel, who with a sort of holy envy
seemed to me to say to the Evangelist: Behold and see the tabernacle of God among men, and He shall
live with them and they shall be his people; He will be their Brother and He will assume human form in
this tabernacle Mary, whom thou seest descending from heaven, by her conception and formation. But
we can answer with equal joy to these heavenly courtiers: indeed the tabernacle of God is with us, for it
is our tabernacle, and in it God becomes our own; He will receive from it life and blood, which He
offers in purchase for us in order to make us his people. He shall live in us as in his dwelling and
habitation, since receiving Him in the holy Sacrament we are made his tabernacle (Joan 6, 57). Let
those heavenly spirits be content to be our elder brothers, less in need than we. We are the frail little
ones, who must be strengthened and regaled by our Father and Brother. Let Him come to the
tabernacle of his Mother and to us; let Him assume human form in her virginal womb; let the Divinity
be encompassed and live among us and in us. Let us hold Him in our midst, in order that He may be
our God and we his people and his resting-place. Let the angelic spirits break forth in wonder and
praise at such great marvels: but let us mortals enjoy Him, uniting with them in praise and love toward
Him. The text continues:
256. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more, nor crying, nor
mourning, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away." In consequence of the
Redemption, of which the Conception of most holy Mary has assured us, the tears, which sin has
caused to flow from the eyes of the mortals, shall be dried. Those that avail themselves of the mercy of
the Most High, of the blood and merits of his Son, of his mysteries and sacraments, of the treasures of
his Church, of the inter cession of his Mother, there is no more death, no sorrow, no tears: since the
death of sin and all that resulted from sin is abolished and has ceased. The true mourning is now left to
the sons of perdition that dwell in the abyss whence there is no deliverance. The sorrows of labor are
not a mourning, not a true sorrow, but only an apparent one, entirely compatible with the true and the
highest kind of joy. For when accepted with submission, it is of inestimable value and the Son of God
chose it as a loving pledge for Himself, his Mother, and his brethren.
257. Nor will there be heard any clamor, nor the voice of quarrel; for the just and the wise,
following the example of their Master and of his most humble Mother, must learn to bear themselves
with silence, like the artless lamb, when it is slaughtered as victim of the sacrifice (Is. 53, 7). They
must renounce the right of our weak nature to vent itself in cries and to complain, seeing that his
Majesty, their supreme Lord and model, was slaughtered on the frightful Cross in order to repair the
damages wrought by our impatience and want of confidence (Phil. 2, 8). Why should our human
nature be permitted to complain of labor and trouble, in view of such an example? Or how can hateful
distinction and uncharitable sentiments be allowed among men, when Christ has come to establish the
law of eternal charity? The Evangelist repeats: “and sorrow shall be no more,” for if any sorrows
remained among men, they are those of a bad conscience; but as a remedy of this kind of sorrow, there
is the sweet medicine of the incarnation of the Word in the womb of the most holy Mary, so that now
this sorrow is become acceptable and the cause of rejoicing, not any more meriting the name of sorrow

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and containing within itself the highest and the sincerest joy. With its introduction the first things have
passed away, namely, the sorrows and the useless hardships of the ancient laws, which are now
sweetened and assuaged by the abundance of grace in the new law. Therefore he adds: “And behold, I
make all things new." This voice proceeded from the One, who is seated on the throne, because He
declares Himself as the Artificer of all the mysteries of the new law of the Gospel. Since all this
newness was to begin with such an unheard of and such an inconceivable event, as the Incarnation of
the Onlybegotten of the Father and the preservation of the virginity of his Mother, it was necessary,
that, just as in all things, so in this Mother, there should be nothing old and worn-out. But original sin
clearly is as old as visible nature, and if the Mother of the incarnate Word was to be infected with it, He
would not have made all things new.
258. And He said to me: “Write, for these things are most faithful and true." And He said to me: “I
am the Alpha and the Omega: the beginning and the end." According to our way of speaking, God was
deeply grieved, because the great works of love per formed for us in the Incarnation and Redemption
should be so much forgotten; and as a remembrance of these great benefits and as a satisfaction for our
ingratitude He commands them to be written. Therefore men should write them in their hearts and
should begin to dread the offense, which they commit against God by their gross and execrable
forgetfulness. Although it is true, that the Catholics believe and trust in these mysteries, yet by the
contempt, which they show in their want of esteem for them and in their forgetfulness, they seem
tacitly to repudiate them, living as if they did not believe them. Protesting against their foul
ingratitude, the Lord says: “For these things are most faithful and true." Let the torpid and listless
mortals in their sloth and listlessness understand, that these words are most faithful as well as most
powerful to stir the human heart from its torpidity, as soon as they become fixed in the memory,
pondered and revolved in the mind as the most certain truth. For God has made them true for each one
of us.
259. But as God does not repent of his gifts (Rom. 11, 29) and does not retract the good which He
confers, even if man makes himself unworthy, He says: “It is done;” as if He wanted to say to us, that
although by our ingratitude we have offended Him, He will not turn back from his course of love, but
having already sent into the world the most holy Mary free from original sin, all that pertains to the
Incarnation is already an accomplished fact. Since the most pure Mary was now on earth it appeared
impossible, that the divine Word should remain in heaven and not come to earth in order to assume
human flesh in the womb of the Virgin. And He assured us again saying: I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the first and the last letter, the beginning and the end, including the perfection of all things; for
if I give them a beginning, it is for the purpose of raising them to the perfection of their ultimate end.
This I will do through Christ and Mary, commencing and perfecting in Them all the works of grace. In
man I will raise and draw all creatures toward Me, as to their last end and their center, where they shall
find repose.
260. “To him that thirsteth I will give of the fountain of the water of life, freely. He that shall
overcome shall possess these things." Who among creatures shall presume to give counsel to God
(Rom. 11, 34) or who shall give so much to Him as to oblige Him to make a return? So says the
Apostle, wishing to make it understood, that all that God does or has done for men, was of his free
grace, and not through obligation toward any one. The source of a fountain owes nothing to him that
drinks from its stream; freely and gratuitously it flows for all that approach; and that all do not partake
of its blessings is not the fault of the fountain, but of those that do not approach, for it invites all to
partake of its joyful abundance. And if they do not seek it, it issues itself to seek such as will partake,
flowing on without ceasing, in order that freely and without reward it might offer itself to all. O most
reprehensible dullness of mortals! O most abominable ingratitude! If the true Lord is in no way
obliged to us, and if He has given and gives all out of liberality, and if He has even exceeded all his

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graces and benefits by becoming man and dying for us, thus giving Himself to us entirely and letting
flow the stream of his Divinity until it meets our human nature and unites Itself with us, how is it
possible, that we, being so desirous of honor, glory and delight, do not hasten to drink from this freely
flowing fountain (Is. 55, 1)? But well I see the cause. We do not thirst for the true glory, honor and
happiness, but we seek only for the apparent and deceitful ones, despising the fountains of grace, which
Jesus Christ has opened for us by the merits of his Death (Is. 12, 3). But to those that have thirst after
the Divinity and its graces, the Lord promises, that He will give freely of the fountain of life (Jer. 2,
13). O what a great sorrow and pity it is, that having discovered the fountain of life, so few are
thirsting for it, and that there are so many, who run after the waters of death! Those that conquer the
demon, the world, and their own flesh within themselves, will certainly possess these things. And it is
moreover said, that He offers them, for it might be doubtful, lest the waters of grace might at some time
be denied or withdrawn: therefore in order to assure us, they are offered freely for our possession
without limit or restriction.
261. Over and above, the Lord hastens to certify all this by another assurance, saying: “I shall be his
God and he shall be my son” (Apoc. 21, 7), and if He is to us a God, and we are to Him as sons, it is
clear, that we are made to be sons of God, and being sons, also heirs of all his goods (Rom. 8, 17) and
being heirs (although all our heirship is that of grace) we are made secure of our inheritance, just as
children are secure in the inheritance of the possession of their parents. As He is Father and God at the
same time, infinite in his attributes and perfections, who can estimate the goods, which He offers to us
in making us sons? Therein is included the paternal love, our preservation, our vocation, our
enlivenment and justification, all the means thereto, and finally our glorification and the state of
happiness, which neither eyes have seen, nor ears have heard, nor ever has entered into the heart of
man. All this is destined for those that conquer and have shown themselves true and courageous
children.
262. “But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death." On this formidable roster innumerable sons of perdition have
written their names of their own accord, since infinite is the number of the foolish, who blindly have
chosen death, blocking up for themselves the path of life. For this path is not hidden to those who use
their eyes, but only to those who wilfully close their eyes and who have allowed and are allowing
themselves to be fascinated and deceived by the fraudulent tricks of satan. According to the different
inclinations and tastes he proffers them the poisonous cup of vice, after which they seek. “The fearful”
are those, who continually hesitate, and thus fail to taste of the manna of virtue and never enter into the
pathway of eternal life; to whom virtue appears insipid and burdensome, though the yoke of the Lord is
sweet and his burden is light (Matth. 11, 30); deceived by this fear they are overcome by their
cowardice rather than by the difficulties. Those other ones, “the unbelievers,” neither admit that truths
are revealed, nor give belief to them, like the heretics, pagans and infidels; or if they do believe them,
like the Catholics, it seems as if they heard them from afar and only through the faith of others, not
giving full assent to the evident truth contained therein. Thus they hold but a lifeless belief and they
live like unbelievers.
263. “The abominable, quot; are those who follow vice without distinction, without repentance or
limit, and rather boast of their wickedness and contempt, making themselves hateful to God and
drawing down his wrath and curse. Thus they arrive at a state of rebellion and become incapable of
good works. They draw away from the path of eternal life, as if they were not created for it, they
separate and become estranged from God and his benefits and blessings, objects of disgust to God and
his saints. Likewise are mentioned “the murderers,” who, without fear or reverence for the divine
justice, usurp the right of the supreme Lord, the sole Governor of the universe, and presume to chastise

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and avenge injury; these deserve to be treated and judged according to the same measure, which they
use in treating and judging others (Luke 6, 38). quot;The adulterers quot; are excluded from that
kingdom, since, for a short and impure pleasure, which is abhorred as soon as it is attained, and yet in
its disorder is never satiated, they despise the friendship of God and the eternal joys, which on being
tasted are the more sought and are an unfailing fountain of undiminished delight. The “sorcerers”
likewise, who believe and testify to the false promises of the dragon, hidden under the cloak of
friendship; they are deceived themselves and so perverted that they deceive and pervert others. “The
idolaters” cannot enter heaven for they seek after and feel the presence of the Divinity and do not find
it, though He is in all our surroundings (Act 17, 27). They ascribe Divinity to the works of their own
hands, which are only inanimate shadows of the truth and empty cisterns, totally inapt to suggest an
idea of the grandeur of the true God (Jer. 2, 13). “The liars” also, who standing in opposition to the
highest truth, which is God, are deprived of his rectitude and virtue, occupying the opposite extreme,
confiding more in fraudulent deceits than in the Author of truth and of all good.
264. Of all these the Evangelist says he heard the sentence, “Their portion shall be in the pool of the
fire burning with sulphur, which is the second death." Nobody can complain of divine justice and
equity since He has justified his cause by the greatness of his benefits and numberless mercies. He
descended from heaven to live and die among men and rescue them by his own life-blood. He opened
up vast foundations of grace, which are freely offered to us in the holy Church. In addition to all this
He gave us his Mother and the fountain of her most holy life, through which we may attain it.
Therefore, mortals cannot excuse themselves, if in spite of all these gifts, they have not made use of his
grace, and if they have abandoned the inheritance of eternal life in the pursuit of momentary delights of
their mortal life. No wonder that they harvest that which they have sown, and that their portion shall be
in the terrible abyss of burning brimstone from whence there is no redemption nor hope of life, when
once the second death of punishment has overtaken them. Although this second death is infinite in its
duration, yet more wicked and abominable was the first death of their sin, into which they voluntarily
precipitated themselves. For the death of grace caused by sin is opposed to the in finite sanctity and
goodness of God; it offends Him, who is to be reverenced and adored. The death of infernal pains is
the just punishment of these damnable souls and is the equitable retribution of his most unerring
justice. Thereby this justice is exalted and proclaimed in the same measure in which it was outraged
and despised by sin. Let it through all the ages be feared and adored. Amen.

CHAPTER XVIII
SEQUEL OF THE MYSTERY OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE MOST
HOLY MARY AS DESCRIBED IN THE SECOND PART OF THE
TWENTY-FIRST CHAPTER OF THE APOCALYPSE.

265. The further wording of the twenty-first chapter of the Apocalypse is as follows:
9. “And there came one of the seven angels, who had the vials full of the seven last plagues,
and spoke with me, saying: Come, and I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
10. And he took me up in spirit to a great and high mountain, and he showed me the holy city
Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
11. Having the glory of God; and the light thereof was like to a precious stone, as to the jasper-
tone, even as crystal.
12. And it had a great wall and high, having twelve gates; and in the gates twelve angels, and

8
 names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
13. On the east, three gates; and on the north, three gates; and on the south, three gates; and on
the west, three gates.
14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them, the twelve names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15. And he that spoke with me had a measure of reed, of gold, to measure the city and the
gates there of, and the wall;
16. And the city lieth in a four-square, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth; and he
measured the city with the golden reed for twelve thousand furlongs; and the length and the height
and the breadth thereof are equal.
17. And he measured the wall thereof a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man,
which is of an angel.
18. And the buildings of the wall thereof was of jasper-stone; but the city itself pure gold, like
to pure glass."
266. The angels of which the Evangelist speaks in this place, are seven of those who attend in a
special manner at the throne of God and who have received commission and power to punish some of
the sins of men. This vengeance of the wrath of the Omnipotent (Apoc. 15, 1) will happen in the last
ages of the world; but it shall be a new punishment, greater than which neither before nor after is
possible during mortal existence. But since these mysteries are deeply hidden and since not all have
been revealed to me, nor concern this history, I do not consider it proper to expatiate upon them, but I
will pass on to what more closely concerns my task. This angel, of which St. John speaks, is the one
through whom God will avenge with an especial and dreadful chastisement the injuries committed
against his most holy Mother; for the insane daring, with which they have despised Her, has roused the
indignation of his Omnipotence. As the most holy Trinity has pledged Itself to honor and exalt this
Queen of heaven above all human creatures and above the angels, placing Her in this world as a Mirror
of the Divinity and as the special Mediatrix of mortals, God has taken it in a particular manner upon
Himself to avenge the heresies, errors, outrages, and all injuries committed against Her, since thereby
men have not glorified, acknowledged and adored Him in this tabernacle and have not made use of this
incomparable mercy. These punishments are prophesied to the holy Church. Although the mysterious
words of the Apocalypse enshroud in obscurity the rigor of this punishment, yet woe to the unhappy
ones, that shall be overtaken by it! Woe to me, who have offended a God so strong and powerful to
chastise! I am over whelmed in the expectation of the great calamity here threatened.
267. The angel spoke to the Evangelist saying: “Come, and I will show thee the bride, the wife of
the Lamb,” etc. The angel declares in this passage, that the holy city of Jerusalem, which he showed to
him, is the espoused wife of the Lamb, referring by this metaphor (as I have already said No. 248) to
the most holy Mary, whom St. John saw both as a Mother, or Woman, and as a Spouse of the Lamb,
that is Christ. The Queen held and fulfilled in divine manner both offices. She was the Spouse of the
Divinity, the only One (Cant. 6, 8) and incomparable on account of the unequalled faith and love, with
which the espousals were entered into and accomplished; and She was the Mother of the same Lord
incarnate, giving Him his mortal substance and flesh, nourishing and sustaining Him in his existence as
man, which He derived from Her. In order to see and understand such high mysteries the Evangelist
was exalted in spirit to a great height of sanctity and light; for with out going out of himself and being
raised above human weakness, he could not understand them; just as we, imperfect, earthly and abject
creatures, cannot encompass them for the same reason. Then elevated thus high, he says: “He showed
me the holy city of Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven,” for Mary was built up and formed, not on
earth, where She was like a pilgrim and a stranger, but in heaven, where the common, earthly material
was excluded. For though the material of her being was taken from the earth, it was at the same time

9
so elevated in heavenly perfection as to be fit for the building up of that mystical City in a celestial and
angelic, yea divine manner, effulgent with the Divinity.
268. Therefore he adds: “Having the glory of God,” for the most holy soul of Mary was favored
with such a participation of the Divinity and of its attributes and perfections, that if it were possible to
see Her in her own essence, She would appear as if illumined with the eternal splendor of God himself.
Great and (Ps. 86, 3) glorious things are said in the Catholic church of this City of God, and of the
splendor, which She has received from that same Lord; but all of it is insignificant, and all human
words fall short of the truth. The created intellect, entirely overcome, can but assert, that the most holy
Mary partakes of the Divinity more than can be comprehended; confessing thereby the substance of the
reality as well as the incapability of the mind to express in a proper manner, that which it wishes to
confess. She is formed in the heavens, and only the Artificer who formed Her, is able to comprehend
her greatness, He alone can estimate her origin and the affinity, which He contracted with most holy
Mary, by perfecting her gifts to a semblance of the attributes of his infinite greatness and Divinity.
269. “And the light thereof was like to a precious stone, the jasper-stone, even as crystal,” etc. It is
not so difficult to understand how She can be similar at the same time to two such dissimilar stones as
crystal and jasper, as it is to understand how She can be similar to God. But from this comparison we
derive a certain understanding of similarity to God. The jasper sparkles and glitters in colors of many
different shades, while the crystal is characterized by limpid and uniform transparency; both combined
form a rare and beautiful variety. The most pure Mary, in her formation, was endowed with the variety
of virtues and perfections, which the hand of God itself selected and interwove in her soul. These
graces and perfections made her soul like unto a most pure crystal, without blemish or stain of guilt; in
her purity and transparency it scattered the enrapturing rays of the Divinity, just as the crystal meeting
the sun, seems to absorb and again send forth its rays as if it were itself the sun. Nevertheless this
crystal-jasper sparkles also in many-colored hues because She is a Daughter of Adam and a mere
creature, and all the splendors of the Divinity contained within Her are only a participation. Although
it appears to be a divine light, it is not a part of her nature, but communicated and conferred by grace.
She is truly a creature formed and shaped by the hand of God himself, but in a manner befitting one
who was to be his Mother.
270. “And it had a great wall and high, having twelve gates." The mysteries enclosed in the walls
and portals of this mystical City, most holy Mary, are so hidden and great that I, an ignorant and
obscure woman, can with difficulty reduce to words that which was shown to me. However, in order to
proceed: At the first moment of the Conception of the most holy Mary, when the Divinity manifested
Itself to Her in the vision above referred to (No. 228-236), the whole blessed Trinity, as if renewing the
ancient decrees of her creation and exaltation, made a kind of agreement or contract with this Lady,
without however making it fully known to Her. It was as if the three Divine Persons conferred among
Themselves and spoke to each other in the following manner:
271. “It is befitting to the dignity of our Bride and the Mother of the Word, that She be constituted
the Queen and Mistress of all creation. Besides the gifts and riches of the Divinity, which We give and
confer upon Her for her own sake, it is meet that She exercise the right of distributing the treasures of
our mercy, so that She may communicate according to her pleasure the graces and favors necessary to
mortals, especially to those who invoke Her as her children and clients, thus enriching the needy,
freeing the sinners, elevating the just and affording a universal refuge to all men. And in order that all
creatures may recognize Her as their Queen and Mistress, and as the Treasurer of our infinite bounties,
from whence they are to be distributed, We entrust Her with the keys of our will and heart; She shall be
in all things the Executrix of our pleasure toward the creatures. Above all We shall give to Her
dominion and power over the dragon, our enemy, and over all his allied demons. Let them fear her
presence and her name and in it, let their deceits be crushed and annihilated. Let all the mortals that fly

10
to this City of refuge, find in it a sure and certain protection, free from all the dread of the demons and
their snares."
272. Without revealing to the soul of the most holy Mary all that is contained in this decree or
proposal, the Lord directed Her in that first instant to pray with great love, to intercede for all the souls,
and to solicit and procure for them eternal life, especially for those, who in the course of their lives
should commend themselves to her care. The blessed Trinity made known to Her that before his most
just tribunal nothing would ever be denied to Her; that She should command the devil and that She
should have power, by virtue of her commands, to keep him away from souls, since She would have at
her disposal the arm of the Almighty. But the reason of this favor was not made known to Her, nor the
reason for all her other gifts, and this reason was no other than that She was to be the Mother of the
Word. In saying that this City was surrounded by a great and high wall St. John refers to this godgiven
prerogative of his Mother, that She was to be the secret refuge, protection and defense of all men,
wherein they would find all the security of a city of refuge and of a strong fortress against their
enemies. To this powerful Queen and Lady of all creation and to this dispensatrix of all the treasures of
heavenly grace, all the sons of Adam were to fly. He says that the walls are very high, for the power of
the most pure Mary to overcome the demon and to raise the souls to grace is so great that it is inferior
only to that of God himself. So well armed for all this and so well defended and secure for Herself and
for all those, who seek her protection, is this City, that not all the forces created by God outside of Her
can overthrow or surmount its walls.
273. “Having twelve gates,” for the entrance into this holy City is free to all nations and generations
excluding none, but inviting all; so that no one shall be deprived of the mediation of this Queen of
mercy for obtaining the gifts and graces, nor the eternal glory of the Most High. In the gates were
twelve angels. These twelve princes are those mentioned above as being among the ones selected as
the guardians of the Mother of the incarnate Word. The service of these twelve angels, besides
attending to their Queen, was to assist especially and to defend those souls who devoutly call on Mary,
our Queen, for help, and who distinguish themselves in their devotion, veneration and love for Her.
Therefore the Evangelist says that he saw them in the gates of that City; they are the ministers and as it
were, the servants, who are to help, encourage and accompany the mortals in entering into the portals
of piety, opened by the most holy Mary to eternal happiness. Many times does She send them with
inspirations and favors in order to snatch those from the dangers of body and soul, who invoke Her and
are her devout servants.
274. He continues: “And names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel” for the angels receive their names according to the ministry and service, for which
they are sent to the earth. And because these twelve princes are especially attached to the service of the
Queen of heaven in order that they may assist in the salvation of men, and because all the elect are
included with the twelve tribes of Israel, forming the holy people of God: therefore the Evangelist says
that the angels bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. To each one of the twelve tribes one of
these angels is assigned. Under their charge and protection are all those that from every nation and
generation enter through the portals of the intercession of most holy Mary into the celestial Jerusalem.
275. Wondering at this exaltation of the most pure Mary and that She should be the Mediatrix and
the portal of all the predestined, I was given to understand that this prerogative befits Her, who as
Mother of Christ was to do such great things for men conjointly with her most holy Son. For She
furnished Him from her own purest blood and substance with a body, in which He suffered and
redeemed men. On account of her close connection with his flesh and blood, She in a manner died and
suffered in Christ, freely of her own will accompanying Him in his Passion and Death, suffering with
Him according to Her power with heavenly humility and fortitude. Thus, as She cooperated in his
Passion and offered Herself as a victim for the human race, so the same Lord made Her a participant in

11
his dignity of Redeemer and placed Her in charge of the merits and fruits of the Redemption, to be
distributed by her own hand and communicated to the redeemed. O, admirable Treasurer of God! How
secure are in thy heavenly and bountiful hands the riches of the Omnipotent! Hence this City “had
three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west,”
etc. The three gates, corresponding to each of the four quarters of the world, invite all the mortals to
draw near to Him, who is the Creator of all, namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Each of
the three Persons, desires and ordains, that most holy Mary should be in possession of the gates for
soliciting the divine treasures for mortals. Although there is but one God in three Persons, each one for
Himself concedes free entrance and admission to this most pure Queen, in order that before the tribunal
of the immutable and triune Being She may intercede, solicit and receive gifts and graces for those that
seek Her and honor Her in the world. Therefore as there are not one, but three portals in every
direction, none of the mortals any where in the universe and of any nation and tribe shall have an
excuse. The entrance into free and open city gates is so easy, that if any one fails to enter, it is not
because the gates prevent him, but because he himself tarries and does not wish to seek safety. What
then shall the infidels, heretics and pagans say? and what excuse have the bad Christians and the
obstinate sinners? If the treasures of heaven are in the hands of our Mother and Lady, if She continues
to call us and solicit us through her angels, if She opens not one but many gates to heaven, how is it
that there are so many who remain outside and so few who enter through them?
276. “And the walls of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the twelve names of the
apostles of the Lamb." The strong and unshakable foundations, upon which God built up the holy City
of Mary his Mother, are her virtues, as governed and proportioned in Her by the Holy Ghost. He
enumerated twelve, corresponding with the names of the Apostles, in order to show that it is founded
upon the surpassing sanctity of the Apostles, who are the leaders among the saints. For according to
the saying of David, the foundations of the city of God are placed upon the holy mountains, and also
inversely, the sanctity and wisdom of Mary grounded and confirmed the Apostles after the Death and
Ascension of Christ. Although She was always their Instructress and model, yet in those times She
alone was the chief support of the primitive Church. Now, because She was destined and endowed for
this office by the corresponding virtues and gifts from the moment of her Immaculate Conception,
therefore they are called the twelve foundations of this City of God.
277. “And he that spoke with me had a measure of reed, of gold, and he measured the city with the
golden reed for twelve thousand furlongs,” etc. By these measurements the Evangelist alludes to the
great mysteries of the dignity, graces and gifts and merits contained in the Mother of God. Although
the measurements of the dignity and benefits, which the Almighty conferred upon Her, were
exceedingly great, yet they were within possibility and they were also well proportioned. “And the
length thereof is as great as the breadth." From all sides She is equally well formed, without a sign of
deficiency, inequality or disproportion. I do not expatiate thereon, but refer to what I will say about
this in the course of this history of her life. But I desire to mention that the measure of the dignity, the
merits and graces of most holy Mary, was none other than the humanity of her most blessed Son, united
to the divine Word.
278. The Evangelist calls the humanity of Christ a “reed” because He assumed the frailty of our
weak and carnal nature, and “of gold,” on account of his Divinity. In accordance with the dignity of the
true God-man, Christ, and correspondingly with the gifts and merits of the incarnate God, also his most
holy Mother was measured. He it was who measured Her with Himself, and She, being thus
proportioned, seemed in her office as Mother, exalted to a dignity corresponding to his. In the length of
her gifts and graces, and in the breadth of her merits, in all things did She seem well proportioned
without defect. She could not be equal absolutely to her most holy Son with an equality which the
learned call mathematical; for Christ our Lord was true God and man, whereas She was a mere creature

12
and thus the measure exceeded infinitely that which was measured by it; yet the most pure Mary was
adjusted according to a certain equality of proportion to her divine Son. Just as there was wanting in
Him nothing that corresponds and belongs to his dignity as the true Son of God, so nothing was
wanting, nor was there any defect in that, which was due to Her as true Mother of that same God, in
such a manner that to Her as Mother of God, and to Christ as Son of God, were conceded equal
proportions of dignity, graces, gifts and merits. There was no created grace in Christ, which was not
held in its proportion also by his most pure Mother.
279. The Evangelist says: “And he measured the city with the golden reed for twelve thousand
furlongs." This measure of “stadia” and the number “twelve thousand” with which the heavenly Queen
at her Conception was measured, indicate most exalted mysteries. The Evangelist calls the perfect
measure, by which are measured the high sanctity of the predestined, “stadia,” there by referring to the
graces and gifts, which God in his eternal foreknowledge decreed to communicate through the
incarnate Son, adjusting and pre-ordaining these gifts with infinite equity and mercy. By these stadia
then are measured all the saints and the heights of their virtues and merits. Most unhappy he who does
not come up to this measure and who cannot be measured by it when the Lord shall measure him. The
number twelve thousand is used in order to include all the rest of the elect and the predestined, headed
in their thousands by the twelve Apostles, the princes of the Catholic Church. In the same way they are
mentioned in the seventh chapter of the Apocalypse under the leadership of the twelve tribes of Israel.
For all the elect must submit to the teaching of the Apostles of the Lamb, as I have already said above
(No. 273).
280. From all this can be estimated the greatness of that City of God, the most holy Mary. For if we
assume that the stadium which the Evangelist mentions measures at least 125 steps, then a city that
extends 12,000 furlongs or stadia on each of its four sides aim in its height, must appear of huge
dimensions. The measurement and number of stadia of all the predeslined taken together was found to
be equal to that of our blessed Lady, the most holy Mary, and their length, breadth and height was not
greater than hers. For She that was to be the Mother of God himself and the Queen and the Mistress of
all creatures, was equal to them joined in one mighty host. In Her alone was contained more than in all
the rest of creation.
281. “And he measured the wall thereof a hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man,
which is of an angel." This measure of the walls of the City of God, was not of their length, but of their
height. For if the length and the width of the city were twelve thousand stadia, making a perfect
square, it was certainly necessary that the walls should extend still farther on the outside in order to
encompass the city. The measure of one hundred and forty-four cubits (of whatever length these might
be) , was certainly too short for a city of that extent; but that measurement would very well fit the
height of the walls and would be well adapted for the security and defense of those dwelling therein.
This measurement of their height indicates the security of all the gifts and graces which the Almighty
conferred on most holy Mary as befitting her dignity and sanctity. In order to make this more plain, it
is said that the height was one hundred, forty, and four cubits, an unequal number, referring to three
walls: a high one, a medium sized and a small one, and corresponding to the activity of the Queen of
heaven in great, in more ordinary and insignificant things. Not that in Her there was anything
insignificant, but because the object matter of her actions was of different kinds, and so were also her
actions themselves. Some were miraculous and supernatural, others belonged to the sphere of the
moral virtues, and these latter again were either interior or exterior. All of them She performed with
such a plenitude of perfection that She omitted not the unimportant obligations on account of the
important ones, nor did the latter suffer on account of her exactitude in the former. She fulfilled them
all with such an exalted holiness, and with such full approbation of the Lord that She was measured
with the standard of her most holy Son, as well in the natural as in the supernatural sphere of her life. It

13
was the measure of the Godman himself, the Angel of the great council, excelling all men and angels.
With Him She, as his Mother, was exalted above them in proportion to her dignity. The Evangelist
continues and says:
282. “And the building of the wall thereof was of jasper-stone." The walls of a city most
conspicuously strike and engage the eyes of the beholder. The variety of colors and hues that
distinguish the jasper-stone here mentioned as composing the walls of Mary, the City of God, bespeak
the ineffable humility with which all the excellencies and graces of the great Queen were clothed and
permeated. For although She was the worthy Mother of her Creator, exempt from all stain of sin and
imperfection, She exhibits Herself to the view of mortals as dependent upon and as it were tinted with
the shades of the ordinary laws, to which the daughters of Adam are subject; for She subjected Herself
to the penalties and necessities of our common life, as I shall describe later on. Nevertheless this wall
of jasper, though apparently displaying these color-tints of the rest of womankind, was to serve as an
invincible defense of the city. Inside, as the Evangelist says, the city was of “pure gold, like to most
pure and flawless glass,” for neither in the formation of the most holy Mary, nor afterwards, during her
most innocent life, did She ever admit any stain, which could obscure her crystalline clearness. For just
as any stain or blemish, even if only the size of an atom, finding its way into glass during its formation
will never disappear so as to leave no visible trace and will always interfere with its transparency and
purity; so, if the most pure Mary had contracted in her Conception the blemish or stain of original sin,
it would always be discernible and forever degrade and prevent her crystalline purity and transparency.
Neither would She be pure Gold, since her sanctity and gifts would contain the slack of original sin,
lessening its fineness by many carats; hence, this City was “gold, like the purest glass,” because She
was most pure and like unto the Divinity.

CHAPTER XIX
CONTAINS THE LAST PORTION OF APOCALYPSE XXI IN AS
FAR AS IT DESCRIBES THE CONCEPTION OF THE MOST
HOLY MARY.

283. The text of the third and last part of chapter twenty-first of the Apocalypse which I saw
explained is as follows:
19. “And the foundations and the wall were adorned by all manner of precious stones. The
first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20. The fifth, sardony, the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth,
topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
21. And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, one to each; and every special gate was of one
several pearl; and the street of the city was of pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
22. And I saw no temple therein. For the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof, and the
Lamb.
23. And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God
hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.
24. And the nations shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory
and honor into it.
25. And the gates thereof shall not be shut by day; for there shall be no night there.
26. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

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 27. There shall not enter into it anything defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie,
but they that are written in the book of life of the lamb.”
So far the text and letter of the twenty-first chapter of the Apocalypse, which I saw explained.
284. The Almighty having chosen the holy city of Mary for his habitation, and She being of all
things outside of God the most fit and appropriate, it was not improper that, from the treasures of his
Divinity and from: the merits of his most holy Son, He should adorn the foundations of this city s wall
with all manner of precious stones. The fortitude and strength of Mary, typified by the walls, the beauty
and excellence of her sanctity and graces, symbolized by the precious stones, her wonderful
Conception, suggested by the foundations, were all well proportioned by God in regard to each other
and in regard to the exalted end, for which this City was founded, namely, that God should live within
it by his love and that from the virginal womb of Mary He might accept his human nature. All this the
Evangelist describes just as he sees it in the most holy Mary. For on account of the dignity, sanctity and
stability which were required in Her as a dwelling-place and as a stronghold of God, it was befitting
that the foundation walls of this City, which prefigure the beginnings of her Immaculate Conception,
should be built of such eminently precious stones or virtues that none more rich or precious could ever
be found.
285. “The first foundation,” or stone, he says, “was jasper,” whose variegated tints and durability
indicate the constancy and fortitude, which from the moment of her Conception was infused into this
great Lady in order that during the course of her life She might continue to exercise all the virtues with
invincible magnanimity and constancy. The virtues and habits, conceded and infused into the most holy
Mary at her Conception and typified by these precious stones, at the same time are connected with
special privileges, and I will as far as possible, explain them, in order that the full mystery of these
twelve foundations may become known. This gift of strength included a special superiority and
sovereignty for repressing, subduing and vanquishing the ancient serpent, and for inspiring all the
demons with an inexpressible terror. On that account they fly from Her and fear Her from afar, being
filled with trembling at her mere presence. They cannot come near the most holy Mary without
excruciating pain. So liberal was divine Providence with her Majesty that She was not only exempt
from the common laws of the children of Adam, but also freed from original guilt as well as from
subjection to the demon contracted thereby. Setting Her apart from these evils, He at the same time
endowed Her with sovereign power over the devil, which all men have lost together with their
innocence. More than that: as Mother of the Son of the eternal Father (whom She bore in her womb for
the very purpose of putting an end to the evil power of the enemies) She was invested with actual
authority which emanated from God Himself and in virtue of which this most exalted Mistress subdued
the demons and sent them repeatedly to the infernal dungeons, as I will relate farther on.
286. “The second, sapphire.” This stone imitates the color of the clear and serene firmament and
shows a scattering of gold spots or atoms. Its color typifies the serenity and tranquillity of the gifts and
graces of the most holy Mary, enabling Her to enjoy an unchanging, heavenly and serene peace, free
from any cloud of disorder and illumined from the moment of her Conception with visions of the
Divinity. By the likeness of her virtues to the divine attributes and by her participation in them,
especially in their unchangeableness, She made Herself worthy to see God. Many times during her
pilgrimage through life was She favored with unveiled and clear vision of God, as will be described. In
virtue of this singular privilege the Almighty endowed Her with the power of communicating
tranquillity and peace of spirit to those, who will ask for her intercession. There fore let all the faithful,
who are agitated and stirred up by the tormenting anxiety of their vices, pray to Her, that so they may
obtain from Her this gift of peace.
287. “The third, a chalcedony.” This stone takes its name from the country where it is found. It is of
the color of the ruby and in the night resplendent as a beaconlight. The hidden signification of this

15
stone points to the holiness and power of the name of Mary. For She took her name from that part of
the world, where She first came into being, calling herself a daughter of Adam, and her name, by the
mere change of the accent signifies in Latin the collective oceans, for She was the ocean of the graces
and gifts of the Divinity. She came into the world in her Immaculate Conception, submerging and
inundating it with these gifts, sweeping off the malice of sin and its effects, illuminating the darkness of
the abyss with the light of her spirit and the brightness of her heavenly wisdom. This foundation-stone
signifies that the Most High conceded to her most holy name the power to disperse the clouds of
infidelity spread over the earth, and to destroy the errors of heresy, of paganism, idolatry and all
uncertainty in matters of the Catholic faith. If the infidels would turn toward this light by invoking
Mary s name, it is certain that their under standing would quickly expel the darkness, their errors would
be drowned as in a sea in virtue of the power conceded to Her from on high.
288. “The fourth, an emerald,” the color of which is a pleasant green, delighting the sight without
fatigue. It mysteriously typifies the graces of the most holy Mary in her Conception for, being most
amiable and gracious in the eyes of God and his creatures. She preserved in Herself, without the least
offense against his name and memory, all the verdure and strength of the holiness, virtues and gifts then
conferred upon Her. Accordingly the Most High granted Her the privilege of insuring a like stability to
her devout followers, obtaining for them perseverance and fidelity in the friendship of God and in the
practice of virtue.
289. “The fifth, sardonyx.” This stone is transparent, though favoring the flesh-color and usually
containing three different tints: dark below, whitish in the centre, and nacreous or like mother-of-pearl
above, a most graceful variety of color. The mysterious signification of this stone pointed to the close
relation between the Mother and the Son, whom She was to bring forth. The dark color points to the
inferior and terrestrial portion of the body of Mary, obscured by mortification and labors during her
stay on earth, and also to the humanity of her Son, obscured by taking upon Himself our guilt. The
white typifies the purity of the soul of Mary, the Virgin, and of Christ, our highest good. The carnation
bespeaks in Him the hypostatical union of his humanity and Divinity, and in Mary her participation in
the love of her most holy Son, and her communication in all the splendors of the Divinity. In virtue of
this foundation-stone the great Queen of heaven enjoys the power of interceding and obtaining for her
clients the efficacious application of the superabundant merits of the Incarnation and Redemption,
including also a special devotion toward the mysteries and the life of Christ our Lord through his
merits.
290. “The sixth, sardius.” This stone is transparent, and because it at the same time flashes like the
clear flame of a fire, it is the symbol of the flame of divine love, which incessantly burns in the Queen
of heaven, for there is no cessation nor diminution of that conflagration of love in her bosom. From the
very moment of her Conception, which was the time and place of its beginning, it continued to grow,
and now, having reached that highest state of exaltation, which ever can fall to the lot of a creature, it
burns and shall burn still brighter through all the eternities. This includes her privilege of distributing
the influence, the love and the gifts of the Holy Ghost to those who ask in her name.
291. “The seventh, chrysolite.” This stone resembles in its color gold refulgent with flaming fire; and
this latter is more apt to show itself by night than by day. It symbolized the ardent love which Mary
entertains for the Church militant, its ministers, and for the law of grace in particular. This love shone
forth more especially during the night of the Death of her most holy Son, also during the time, when in
the beginnings of the evangelical law, She held the office of teacher and when She prayed so ardently
for the establishment of the Church and its Sacraments. In those times, as will be said in its place, She
cooperated by her most burning love toward the salvation of the whole human race. She alone knew
and appreciated the value of the most holy law of her Son. With this love She was prepared and
endowed from the moment of her Conception in order to be the Coadjutrix of Christ our Lord. This

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includes the prerogative of being able to obtain for those that invoke Her, the grace of a good
disposition toward the fruitful reception of the Sacraments of the holy Church and of clearing away
obstacles that prevent their full effects.
292. “The eighth, beryl.” This stone is of a green and yellow color; but the green predominates,
having a great resemblance to olive and being of resplendent brilliancy. It represents the singular faith
and hope given to Mary in her Conception, enabling Her to understand and execute arduous and
sublime works, such as She in reality accomplished for the glory of Her Creator. In virtue of this gift of
unfailing assistance of the Lord, was conferred upon Her the power to endow her servants with
fortitude and patience in the tribulations and difficulties of their undertakings.
293. “The ninth, topaz.” This stone is transparent and of a mulberry color, much prized and
esteemed. It represents the most honorable virginity of Mary, our Mistress, and her mothership in
regard to the incarnate Word; moreover during her whole life these two prerogatives were held by Her
as of inestimable value and worthy of the most humble thanks. At the instant of her Conception She
asked the Most High for the virtue of chastity and She promised the observance of it during the rest of
her earthly life. She was aware that it was conceded to Her in a degree far above her vows and desires.
Not only that, but She knew that the Lord had made Her the Teacher and the Guide of all the virgins
and lovers of chastity, and that through her intercession, She could obtain these virtues and
perseverance in them for all her devotees.
294 “The tenth, chrysoprase,” the color of which is green with touches of gold. It signified the most
firm hope planted in the heart of the most holy Mary at her Conception, and the love with which it was
impregnated and embellished. Hope lived inextinguishably in the bosom of our Queen, as was befitting
for Her who was to communicate similar quality to the rest of man kind. The firmness of her
confidence was founded in the stability of her high and generous nature during all the labors and
exercises of her most holy life, and especially in the Passion and Death of her most holy Son. At the
same time with this virtue the power of efficacious mediation was given Her, so that She might obtain
the same firmness of hope for her clients.
295. “The eleventh, hyacinth,” which is of an exquisite violet color. In this foundation-stone is
disclosed the love of Mary for the Redemption of the human race. This love was infused into Her at her
Conception and was applied to Her in view of the merits of the death of the Redeemer, her Son. As the
whole remedy of guilt and the justification of all the souls was to take its rise from the Redemption, this
love of the great Queen for the Redemption from that first instant, earned Her the power of demanding
that no sinner, how great and abominable soever he might be, should be excluded from the fruit of the
Redemption and justification, nor fail to attain eternal life if he invoked the intercession of this
powerful Lady and Advocate.
296. “The twelfth, amethyst,” of a refulgent violet color. The mystery of this stone or foundation
corresponds in part with that of the first. It imports a kind of inherent power conceded to the most holy
Mary from the moment of her Conception against all the devilish host, so that the demons, without any
command or action on her part, feel a distressing and torturing force proceeding from Her, as soon as
they wish to approach her presence. It was given to Her as a reward of her incomparable zeal in
exalting and defending the glory and honor of God. Hence the mere sound of her sweetest name is
sufficient to expel from the bodies of men the malignant spirits. For her holy name is so powerful that
at the mere intimation of it, they are overcome and deprived of strength. These are in short the
mysteries of the foundations upon which God built the holy City of Mary. But they point to many other
mysteries and favors received by Her, and in so far as the Lord will give me light and strength, I will
manifest them in the farther course of this history.
297. The Evangelist proceeds and says: “And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, one to each; and
every several gate was of one several pearl.” The great number of gates of this mystical City signify

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that through most holy Mary and through her ineffable dignity and merits, the entrance to life
everlasting was to be just as easy as it is free. It was in a manner due and befitting to the excellence of
this exalted Queen, that in Her and through Her the infinite mercy of the Most High should magnify
itself by opening all the many ways of communication with the Divinity, and that all mortals, if they
wished to make use of her merits and powerful intercession, should enter into participation of the
Divinity. The priceless value, magnificence, beauty and fairness of these twelve gates, constructed of
pearls, imply the greatness of the dignity and grace of this Empress of heaven, and the sweetness of her
delightful name, which draws mortals toward God. The most holy Mary knew that the Lord had
bestowed upon Her the prerogative of being the special Mediatrix of the human race and the
Dispensatrix of the treasures of the Divinity for her Son; and therefore the prudent and most diligent
Mistress exerted Herself to make the merits and dignity of her works so precious and excellent that
they are the astonishment of the blessed in heaven. Thus the gates of that city were indeed precious
pearls in the sight of the Lord and of men.
298. Accordingly it is said: “And the square of the city was of pure gold, as it were transparent
glass.” The piazza or square of that City of God, most holy Mary, is its interior or her soul. Here, as in a
square or marketplace, all the life converges and here the commerce and trade of the republic of the
soul is transacted; for it is the centre of the activity of the senses and other faculties. This square in the
most holy Mary was of purest and transparent gold, because composed of the wisdom and love of God
himself. Never was it affected by dullness, ignorance or inattention; all her thoughts were most exalted
and her affections were inflamed with immeasurable love. On this square the highest mysteries of the
Divinity were deliberated, from this square were heard the words “Fiat mihisecundum verbum tuum,”
which gave a beginning to the most exalted work that God ever accomplished or will ever accomplish;
there the innumerable petitions in favor of the human race were devised and sent up to the tribunal of
God; there those riches were amassed, which will expel poverty from all the world, if men will enter
into commerce with it; there also is the armory against the demons and all vice. For in most holy Mary
are the graces and virtues, which make Her terrible to hell and which afford us courage to overcome the
devilish host.
299. He says farther: “And I saw no temple therein. For the Lord God Almighty is the temple
thereof, and the Lamb.” The temples of the cities serve as places of prayer and worship to be rendered
to God; and it would be a great defect, if in the City of God there were no temple befitting its greatness
and excellence. Hence in this City of holy Mary is so sacred a temple that the omnipotent God himself
and the Lamb itself, that is: the humanity and the Divinity of his Onlybegotten Son, are reverenced and
adored in spirit, and more worthily than in all the temples of the world; for He dwelt in Her as in his
proper habitation. He was also Himself the temple of Mary, since She was encompassed, surrounded
and enclosed by the Divinity and the humanity, both of which served Her as a habitation and a
tabernacle. For being in God, she never ceased to adore, worship and petition this same God and
incarnate Word within her womb thus in spirit living in God and in the Lamb as in a temple since her
continual sanctity was befitting to such a temple. In order to think worthily of this heavenly Mistress,
we must always consider Her as enclosed in the Divinity and in her most holy Son as in a temple. Thus
shall we understand what acts and processes of love, adoration and reverence, were accomplished by
Her; what delights She experienced in the same Lord, what petitions arose in Her for the human race,
and how earnestly, from her inmost heart and with burning charity, She cried and begged for the
salvation of mortals, when in spirit She saw the great necessity of their salvation.
300. Further says the Evangelist: “And the city hath no need of the sun and the moon, to shine in it;
for the glory of God hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.” The sun and the moon, are
not necessary in the presence of greater light than their own; and thus, in the empyrean heaven, where
the infinite Suns give their light, the absence of our sun is no defect, though it is so resplendent and

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beautiful. In the most holy Mary, our Queen, there was no need of created sun or moon to enlighten and
direct Her; for without comparison She pleased and delighted God. Nor could the wisdom, sanctity and
perfection of her works have any other teacher and director, than the Sun of justice itself, her most holy
Son. All other creatures were far too deficient to assist Her in being a worthy Mother of her Creator.
Nevertheless in this same school of the Lord She learned to be the most humble and obedient among
the humble and obedient. Though She was taught by God himself, yet She hesitated not to supplicate
and obey the most abject among men in those things in which it was not unbecoming. Being the
disciple of Him, who corrects the wise, She drew the divine philosophy of humility from Him, her great
Master. And She rose to such wisdom, that the Evangelist could say:
301. “And the nations shall walk in the light of it:” for if Christ our Lord, calls the doctors and saints
burning lights, placed upon the candlestick to enlighten the Church: lights such as were scattered
through the ages in the Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs and Doctors, filling the Catholic
Church with such effulgence, that it appears to be a heaven with many suns and moons: what shall we
say of the most holy Mary, whose light and splendor incomparably exceeds all the doctors and teachers
of the Church, yea that of the angels of heaven? If only the mortals were possessed of clear sight to see
the splendor of the light of the most holy Mary, it alone would suffice to enlighten every man in the
world and to illumine for them the paths of heaven. Therefore, because all those who have attained to
the knowledge of God, walked in the light of this holy City, St. John says: “that the nations have
walked in the light of it.” Moreover he adds most truly:
302. “And the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and their honor into it.” Very blessed are
those kings and princes, who with happy zeal use their power and influence to fulfill this prophecy. All
of them should do so; but fortunate are they, that turn with sincere affection to most holy Mary,
employing their life, their honor, their riches, and their high position in the defense of that City of God,
extending her glory in the world and magnifying her name in the Catholic Church in opposition to the
crackbrained madness of heretics and infidels. With the deepest sorrow I be hold Catholic princes, who
are remiss in seeking the favor of this Queen, fail to ask her assistance in the great dangers of their
states, and do not look upon Her as a refuge and protection, as an Intercessor and Advocate. If the
dangers of kings and potentates are great, let them remember, that their obligation to be thankful is not
any less; for this heavenly Queen herself says, that through Her kings do reign, princes command, and
the powerful administer justice (Prov. 8, 16); She loves those that love Her (Eccli. 14, 31) and those,
that magnify Her, attain eternal life, since those, that work with Her do not sin.
303. I do not wish to conceal the light, which many times and especially on this occasion, has been
vouchsafed to me in order to be made known to others. In the Lord it was shown me, that all the
afflictions of the Catholic Church and all the labors of the Christian people, have been invariably
mitigated by the intercession of the most holy Mary; that in the turbulence of the present times, when
heretical pride surges up so high against God and his lamentably afflicted Church, only one remedy is
left for these miseries, namely: That the Catholic kings and governments turn to the Mother of grace
and mercy, most holy Mary. Let them seek her favor by rendering Her especial homage, so that the
devotion and honor of Mary may grow and spread over the whole earth and thus draw Her toward us
with a look of pity. Then it may be, that She will obtain for us the grace of her most holy Son, that all
the unbridled vices now infecting the Christian people through malice of the enemy, will be reformed,
and through her intercession the wrath of the Lord, which so justly chastises us and threatens us with
yet greater calamities and misfortunes, will beappeased. From this reformation and amendment of our
sins would also spring victory against the infidels and the extirpation of the false sects, that oppress the
holy Church. For the most holy Mary is the sword, which is to destroy and cut them down all over the
world.
304. Even now the world suffers the losses consequent upon this forgetfulness. If the Catholic kings

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are not successful in the government of their countries, in the preservation and the spread of the
Catholic faith, in overcoming their enemies, or in the warfares and battles against the infidels, all this
happens, because they do not follow this guiding Star, which shows them the way; because they have
not placed Mary as the beginning and immediate end of their works and projects and because they
forget that this Queen treads in the paths of justice in order to teach it, exalts and enriches those that
love it (Prov. 8, 20).
305. O thou prince and head of the holy Catholic Church! O ye prelates, who are also called princes
of the Church! And thou, Catholic prince and monarch of Spain, to whom, according to my natural
obligation and through the great love and special providence of the Most High, I direct this humble and
earnest appeal! Cast thy crown, thy monarchy at the feet of this Queen and Mistress of heaven and
earth; seek out this Restoratrix of all the human race; listen to Her, who by power divine is placed over
all the hosts of men and of all the infernal regions; turn thy affection toward Her, who holds in her
hands the keys of the good will and treasures of the Most High; transport thy honor and renown of that
City of God, who has no need thereof in order to increase hers, but who can improve and exalt thy
own! Offer to Her with Catholic enthusiasm and with a whole heart some great and pleasing service,
and the recompense will be immeasurably great: the conversion of the heathens, the victory over
heresies and paganism, the peace of the Church, new light and help to improve the lives of men and a
great and glorious reign for thee in this life and the next.
306. O my fatherland, kingdom of Spain, which on account of thy Catholic faith, art most fortunate!
Even more fortunate shalt thou be if to the steadfastness and sincerity of thy faith, given to thee by the
Almighty, thou wilt add the holy fear of God corresponding to thy distinguished faith! Would that in
order to arrive at this summit of thy happiness, all thy inhabitants unite in a burning devotion to the
most holy Mary! How greatly would thy glory then shine forth! How much wouldst thou be
enlightened! How valiantly wouldst thou then be protected and defended by this Queen, and how
would thy Catholic kings be enriched by treasures from on high, and through their agency, how widely
would the sweet law of the Gospel spread among the nations! Remember that this great Princess
honors those that honor Her, enriches those that seek Her, makes illustrious those that praise Her, and
defends those that hope in Her. Be assured, that in order thus to show Herself a Mother and shower her
mercies upon thee, She hopes and desires to be approached and solicited. At the same time remember,
that God is under no necessity to any one (Ps. 15, 2) and that He can make out of stones, children of
Abraham (Luc. 3, 8); if thou make thyself unworthy of such great good, He can reserve this glory for
those that serve Him better and make themselves less unworthy of the reward.
307. And in order that thou mayest not remain ignorant of the service, which in our days (among
many others taught thee by the devotion and piety), should be rendered to this great Queen and
Mistress of men, consider the present position, which the mystery of her Immaculate Conception holds
in the Catholic Church and direct thy attention to supply what is still missing to establish firmly this
fundamental doctrine of that City of God. Let no one despise this suggestion as coming from a weak
and ignorant woman, or as a notion founded in a prejudiced love of a state and profession consecrated
to the name and honor of Mary immaculate; for the conviction and light, which I have received in the
knowledge of her life, is sufficient for me. Not for my own honor, nor relying upon my own judgment
and authority, do I make this exhortation: I obey the command of the Lord, who gives speech to the
mute, and makes eloquent the tongues of infants. Let those that admire this merciful liberality, also take
notice of what the Evangelist adds, saying:
308. “And the gates thereof shall not be shut by day: for there shall be no night there.” The portals of
mercy of most holy Mary never were and never are closed, nor was there in Her from the first instant of
her Conception, any darkness of guilt, which might close the gates of this City, as it happened in the
rest of the saints. Just as in those places, where gates are always open, all those that wish, can issue

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forth or enter at all times, so no prohibition hinders mortals from entering freely to the Divinity through
the gates of the mercy of the most pure Mary. For in that City is the storehouse of the treasures of
heaven, open to all without limitation of time, place, age or sex. All were free to enter ever since its
foundation; for that very purpose the Most High has opened so many portals in this foundation, leaving
them unlocked, free and open to the light, so that from the first moment of Mary s purest Conception
mercies and benefits began to descend upon the whole human race. But though this City has so many
gates, from which issue the riches of the Divinity, yet it is on that account not the less secure from its
enemies. There fore the text proceeds:
309. “There shall not enter into it anything defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but
they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb,” etc. Rehearsing again the glories of the City of
God, the Evangelist closes this twenty-first chapter, assuring us once more, that there was no blemish in
Her, because She received an immaculate body and soul. This, how ever, never could be said of Her, if
She was tainted by original guilt; and much less have stains or blemishes of actual sins ever found
entrance in Her. That which entered into this City of God is entirely similar to that which is written of
the Lamb: her most holy Son was taken as the pattern and model for her formation and from no other
being could any excellence of the most holy Mary be copied, even when there is question of the
smallest, if indeed anything can be called small in Her. Since this portal, Mary, was to be the portal of a
city of refuge for the mortals, it could only be with the understanding, that he, who is the perpetrator of
abomination and lies, should never find part or entrance through it. But let not on this account the sinful
and guilty sons of Adam hesitate to approach the gates of this holy City of God; for if they approach
with contrition and humility to seek the cleansing of grace, they will find it in these gates of the great
Queen, and in no others. She is clean, pure, abounding in grace, and above all She is the Mother of
mercy ; She is sweet, loving and powerful to enrich our poverty and to cleanse us from the stains of all
our sins.

INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN GAVE ME

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soul desires, hold Him and do not let Him go (Cant. 3, 4). I wish thee to proceed on thy pilgrimage like
one, who has already arrived at the journey s end, keeping thy gaze continually on the source of all
glory. Let the rule of thy life be to walk in the light of faith and in the brightness, with which the
Omnipotent shall fill and illumine thy soul, and to continue to love, adore and reverence Him, without
any cessation or diminution. This being the will of the Almighty in thy regard : consider what shall be
thy gain, but remember also, what may be thy loss. See thou do not run this risk; subject thyself with
thy whole will and being to the guidance of thy Spouse, of myself, and of holy obedience, which must
always be thy standard. Thus the Mother of the Lord instructed me, and I answered Her, filled with
great confusion:
311. “Queen and Mistress of all creation, whose servant I am and wish to be for all the eternities!
Forever will I praise the Omnipotence of the Most High, because He chose thus to exalt Thee. But
since Thou art so fortunate and so powerful with the Almighty, I conjure Thee, O my Lady, to look with
an eye of mercy upon me, thy poor and miserable servant. Make me partaker in the gifts which the
Lord has placed in thy hands for distribution among the needy, raise me up from my abject state, enrich
my nakedness and poverty, and as a Mistress compel me to desire and do what is most perfect, helping
me to find grace in the eyes of thy most holy Son and my Lord. In thy hands do I place my salvation, O
Mistress and Queen! do Thou take charge of it to the end; for thy desires are holy and powerful on
account of the merits of thy most holy Son and on account of the promises of the most holy Trinity,
which are pledges for the fulfillment of all thy petitions and desires without fail. I myself have nothing
to oblige Thee, as I am unworthy, but as a substitute I offer Thee, my Lady, thy own sanctity and
clemency.”

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